Address—C. Whitaker
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Open our Bibles to the book of Daniel.
Daniel, please chapter one.
We sometimes hear the remark that we're living in difficult days, perilous times indeed, that is true.
But certainly Daniel had a very difficult time as well, and God gave him grace to be true and to walk on in separation. So notice closely as read these precious portions.
That there might be due concern and consideration of the word.
That the Holy Spirit may have opportunity to use it to encourage our hearts. This afternoon, the first chapter of Daniel, verse one in the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim, King of Judah.
Came Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, unto Jerusalem and besieged it.
And the Lord gave Jehoiah, King Kim, King of Judah, into his hand with the part of the vessels of the House of God.
Which he carried into the land of Shinar to the House of his God, and he brought the vessels into the treasure House of his God. And the king spake unto espionage the mass of his eunuchs, that he should bring certain of the children of Israel, and of the King's seed, and of the Princess children, in whom was no blemish, but well favored, and scalpel in all wisdom.
And cunning in knowledge, and understanding science, and such as had ability in them to stand in the King's palace, and whom they might teach the learning and the tongue of the Chaldeans. And the king appointed them a daily provision of the King's meat, and of the wine which he drank, so nourishing them three years, that at the end thereof they might stand before the king.
Now among these were of the terror of Judah, Daniel, Hananiah, Mischiev, and Azariah, and to whom the Prince of the eunuchs gave names. For he gave unto Daniel the name of Belshazzar Andrew Hananiah as Shadrach, and to Michel of Meshach, and to Azariah Abednego. But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself.
With a portion of the King's meat.
Nor with the wine which he drank. Therefore he requested of the Prince of eunuchs that he might not defile himself. Now God hath brought Daniel into favor and tender love with the Prince of the eunuchs. And the Prince of the eunuchs said unto Daniel, I fear, my Lord, the king, who has appointed your meat and your drink, for why should he see your faces worse liking than the children which are of your sort?
Then shall you make me endanger my head to the king? Then said Daniel Tomelder, whom the Prince of the eunuchs had sent over Daniel, Hananiah, Michel, and Azariah, Prove thy servants, I beseech thee 10 days, and let them give us post to eat and water to drink. Then let our countenances be looked upon before thee, and the covenants of the children that eat of the portion of the King's meat.
And as thou seest.
Deal with thy servants so He consented to them in this matter.
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And prove them 10 days and at the end of 10 days.
Their countenances appeared fairer and fatter in flesh than all the children which did eat the portion of the King's meat.
Thus Melzar took away the portion of their meat and the wine that they should drink, and gave them pulse. As for these four children, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom, and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.
Now at the end of the days that the king had said he should bring them in, then the Prince of the eunuchs brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar, and the king communed with them, and among them all was found none like Daniel, Hananiah, Michel, and Azariah, therefore stood there before the king, and in all matters of wisdom and understanding that the king inquired of them, he found them.
10 times better than all the magicians and astrologers.
That were in all his realm, and Daniel continued even unto the first year of King Cyrus. Then the 6th chapter, please.
Daniel 6 and the first verse on through.
It pleased Darius to set over the Kingdom 120 Princess, which should be over the whole Kingdom and over these 3 presidents, of whom Daniel was first, that the Princess might give accounts unto them, and the king should have no damage.
Then this Daniel was preferred above the president's and Princess.
Because an excellent spirit was in him, and the king thought to set him over the whole realm. Then the presidents and Princess sought to find occasion against Daniel concerning the Kingdom, but they could find none occasion or fall.
For as much as he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him.
Then said these men, we shall not find any occasion against this Daniel, except we find it against him concerning the law of his God. Then these presidents and Princess assembled together to the king, and said unto him, King Dorax, live forever.
And all the presidents of the Kingdom, the governors and the Princess, the counselors and the captains have consulted together to establish a royal statute.
And to make a firm decree that whosoever shall ask a petition of any God or man for 30 days save of the old king, he shall be cast into the den of lions. Now king established the decree and signed the writing.
That it be not changed according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which allereth not. Wherefore King Darius signed the writing and the decree. Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house, and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed.
And gave thanks before his God as he did.
Four times.
Then these men assembled and found Daniel praying.
And making supplication before his God, then they came near, and spake before the king. Concerning the King's decree, hast thou not signed a decree that every man that shall ask a petition of any God or man within 30 days save of the old king, shall be cast into the den of lions?
The king answered and said, The thing is true according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not.
Then answered them, said before the king, that Daniel, which is of the children of the captivity of Judah, regardeth not thee OK, nor the decree that thou hast signed, but maketh his petition three times a day. Then the king, when he heard these words, was sore displeased with himself, and set his heart on Daniel to deliver him, and he labored till the going down of the sun.
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To deliver him. Then these men assembled unto the king, and said unto the king, No king, that the law of the Medes and Persians is, that no decree nor statute quits, the king establisheth may be changed. Then the king commanded, And they brought Daniel, and cast him into the dead of lions. Now the king spake, and said unto Daniel.
Thy God whom thou service continually, he will deliver thee. And a stone was brought and laid upon the mouth of the dead, and the king sealed it with his own signet, and with the signet of his Lords, that the purpose might not be changed concerning Daniel. Then the king went to his palace, and passed the night fasting.
Neither were instruments of music brought before him, and his sleep went from him.
Then the king arose there in the morning, and went in haste unto the den of lions. And when he came to the den, he cried with a lamentable cry, voice under Daniel. And the king spake, and said to Daniel, Oh Daniel, servant of the living God, is thy God, whom thou service, continually able to deliver thee from the lions. Then said Daniel unto the king.
O King, live forever.
My God hath sent his Angel, and hath shut the lions mouth, that they have not hurt me for as much as before him. Innocence it was found in me, and also before the old king have I done no hurt.
Then was the king exceeding glad for him, and commanded that they should take Dan up out of the dead. So Daniel was taken up out of the dead.
And no matter hurt was found upon it because he believed in his God.
And the king commanded. And they brought those men which had accused Daniel, and they cast them into the den of lions. Then their children and their wives, and the lions had the mastery of them, and break all their bones in pieces forever they came at the bottom of the dead.
Then King Darius wrote unto all people, nations, and languages that dwell in all the earth, peace be multiplied unto you. I make a degree, that in every dominion of my Kingdom men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel. For he is the living God, and steadfast forever, and his Kingdom that which shall not be destroyed, and his dominion shall be even unto the end.
He delivereth and restoreth He worketh signs and wonders in heaven and in earth, Who hath delivered Daniel from the power of the lions. So this Daniel prospered in the reign of Diracs, and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian.
One short portion and saw one.
The first song, please.
Bless it or happy is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in his law does he meditate day and night.
And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season his leaf also shall not wither, and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. Then God do not so, but are like the chap which the wind driveth away. Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous, For the Lord N the way of the righteous, but the way of the ungodly shall perish.
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This precious song sums up those two chapters of Daniel. The 1St 3 verses speak of our Blessed Lord, of whom Daniel in part was a pattern or a type.
Faithful and the last three verses the awful end of the ungodly that refused to go on with the Lord and so turning them into that first chapters of Daniel.
We want to take a look at a few things there.
To encourage our hearts this afternoon because.
Schools are just open and the colleges are still going to be in full swing and the enemy is going to be in full swing seeking to destroy.
Any sparkle thing that might be in the hearts of any of God's dear children.
And we have here.
I believe one of the outstanding portions of God's word to encourage our hearts in days like these. And let us not forget the limitations that Daniel had he.
Didn't have the entire scope of Scripture which we possess and prize today. He did not have the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit of God in his heart.
And so he didn't know the precious truths that we are acquainted with and praise God for, but nevertheless he was a man that stood very firmly.
In his confidence and faith in God, in Jehovah. And we find that in the eighth verse he was a separated man. And that's one thing I believe, that we want to stress a special this afternoon.
Separation and definite purpose of heart because.
We all need it, and we who are older no doubt have failed, and therefore the young people in many cases have been stumbled because we were older have maintained such a faint line of demarcation that our dear young people don't know which is which.
They just can't. By our walk, at least.
Discern just exactly which is right and which is wrong, because there's sometimes a confusion, a Babble of voices, so that they are distressed and perhaps timid, bit fearful, and therefore are found oftentimes on a wrong horse down a bypass instead of going straight forward as Daniel did in The Fear of the Lord.
Over in Acts Chapter 11 and the 23rd verse we have.
A similar thought as presented here in the eighth verse of Daniel one.
Which I believe should be paramount in our hearts.
Hearts Consideration this Afternoon, Acts 1123.
Who, when he came and had seen the face of God, was glad.
And exhorted them all that with purpose of heart they would cleave until the Lord that was the exhortation that was purpose of heart, they would plead unto the Lord. Now I've failed in this, and therefore others have failed, because they've been probably watching me. Well, that's a very, very sad comment here on the human heart. But may the Lord help us not to.
Whether in days like these, not to go in with idolatry, or with a modernism, or with the Ecumenical Council or the International Council of Churches, but to go on with the Lord and to go on with His Word and to go on in prayer.
I remember following the accounts of the missionaries in Japan while we were in Africa. I had some periodicals I was reading.
Month by month, and my heart was set to take note of the various decantations, how various ones of the missionaries bowed down to shadow.
That they might maintain some popularity, that they might perhaps be able to continue on in the country, bowed down to Shindo. Only a few were steadfast and true as Daniel, and sought to go on with purpose of heart, fearing God and having No Fear for the King.
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Oh, God's word tells us so plainly that we ought to fear God rather than men. Let God be true.
And every man a liar. And that's exactly where we stand, I believe in our attempt to hear this afternoon, and so we find in verse 8 of this first chapter. But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with a portion of the King's meat, nor with the wine which he drank. Therefore he requested of the Prince of the Eulux that he might not.
Defiled himself, no doubt. He had been reading Numbers and Leviticus, and had learned about idolatry, and had learned about the blood that was being misused and misapplied. And he was acquainted with those things. And he sought by God's grace to maintain a straight course in the midst of the storm and turmoil and Tempest which he found confronting him well.
That was his definite decision. He purposed in his heart that he was not defied himself with those things which were of the King's bound, his meat and his wine and his whatnot. He didn't want it. He wouldn't have it. Well, we find that anyone who wants to go on with the Lord in days like these, or days like those in which Daniel lived and labored.
Will be proven. Anything that's worth anything at all will have a testing time. And I've noticed this with the dear young people as well as with older folk. There comes a testing time, there comes a proving time. And this world is God's proving ground for you and for me. And the heart is the battleground between the enemy and the Lord of glory. It's the world's largest battleground.
And so in our aviation industry, they have their their test pilots and they have their proving grounds for the automobiles and they have their proving grounds for everything. Everything is tested in the laboratory under destruction.
And to see how it will endure. And this is an opportunity for us, which the thief on the cross did not enjoy. He was faithful in so far as he had opportunity in those few hours.
Which he lingered in the seat before going from the gallows into Florida. But he didn't have the opportunity to test and prove the Lord, and to be proven by the Lord. As we are in this scene, we are not kings and retreat, but we ought to maintain a firm course and a purpose of heart such as.
Will glorify God and will give encouragement and stability.
Those who are perhaps borderline cases, they're just waving and wavering and don't know exactly which way to turn or what to do or where to go. Well, when the trumpet gives an uncertain blast, how can people prepare themselves for battle? And so this afternoon, these words we've read here, I believe, and Dino, we think of the 12Th verse there, prove thy service.
Prove thy service. That was Daniel's request. Prove us and prove us. 10 days. 10 is the number of responsibility. Daniel felt his responsibility before God. Do we feel it? Do I feel it? Do you feel it? Are you aware of the responsibility you have this little time that we are living in now, The little span of life in which we enjoy existence in this scene of God dispensation of grace.
Is our one and only opportunity for.
Having our capacity enlarged for the enjoyment of Christ's eternally, just weigh that.
How are you responding to this privilege and opportunity?
Right here and now our capacity is being formed, whether it be small or whether it be large, for the enjoyment of Christ eternally. Now we notice three times over in this precious book over here in the 9th chapter.
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I believe it is. We have 3 verses that certainly encourage our hearts this afternoon regarding God's servant Daniel, the 9th chapter, the 23rd verse.
I know. Wouldn't it be nice, Wouldn't it be wonderful, beloved young people, if this could be said of each young man and each young lady in this room this afternoon. Notice Daniel 9/23. At the beginning of the supplication the commandment came forth and I am come.
To show thee for thou art greatly beloved, thou art greatly beloved. Therefore understand the matter and consider the vision the 10th chapter and the 11Th verse. And he said unto me, O Daniel, a man, greater beloved, understand the words that I speak unto thee, and stand upright for unto thee.
Am I now set? And when he has spoken this word unto me, I stood firmly. I stood firmly the 19th verse, and said, Oh man, greatly beloved, fear not.
Peace be unto thee, be strong, ye be strong. And when he had spoken unto me.
I was strengthened and said, Let my Lord speak, for thou hast strengthened me.
Do you want to hear the voice of the Lord speak, then read His word. That's His voice to us in these days of difficulty and declension and chaos and confusion and corruption, which we find all about it. These are God's words, so He would have us hearken to His voice that we might be strengthened.
There is no excuse for a weak need, Saints of God. There is no excuse for retreating. There is no excuse for saying, well, I just can't take. I'm going to give up. I don't know what to do next. And so I'm quit.
God never contemplated such a course. Never. And it never will. Daniel didn't quit. Daniel continued on with purpose of heart. And God could say thrice over thou art a man greatly beloved of God.
That's a commendation that any of us may welcome it, and so we can look to the Lord. We might not do it for the sake of commendation, but for his glory and for his praise.
For he gave himself for us. And what have we done? What have we given to him? Are we living selfishly? Are we living for our own ends and our own games? Or are we considering him and giving him a little wider margin in our thoughts and in our programs and in our pursuits and our preferences and our pleasures, all that? He might have a wider match because he's worthy of that and he wants it now. Oh, you know, I think.
Of my own father-in-law, just before he passed on to glory.
I was out with him one day in the yard on the North Shore of Lake Superior and he was weeping up in the garage, getting on in years 70, some years of age 5 or 6. And I said, well father, what are you weeping about? What are you weeping about? Always said I'm so sad.
That I haven't spoken to more souls about my savior.
But he had been faithful.
But he felt that he had missed the mark. So in those last days of his life in the sea he called various ones that he had labored with to his bedside. Pastors and and Christians and unsafe of kindred bedside. He talked about this, he talked to him about God's precious truth. And he said, perhaps for chance I can slay more than my death than in my life as Samson did for the job. Unbelievable.
Oh, we get so serious when we just have a few more hours to labor in the sea. Oh, we get so serious we think, Well, we've reached, we've reached the end of our course, so we better start doing that which will come for eternity. Oh beloved young people, now is the time. Right now. Don't wait. Don't wait until they get grey headed and bald and weak and and failing in health and all. Now is God's time for you.
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How are you? How are you doing now? Not to be introspective, but to check up on our course? How are you?
Spending your time before the Lord, what is your desire regarding His word? If you were put in a room and you had a choice and nobody was looking, which book would you pick up? Would you pick up this fiction book? Would you pick up this this novel, or would you pick up those precious words? Or would you pick up something else?
Ah, that's a test. One finds it so, so prevalent in his own LA. Oh yes. Oh well. I want to do something or something just like now for a little and you pick up something like and precious hours are wasted, hours that may have been spent with God's wonderful word. So I want to take a look at this dear servant of God and see how it was with him and why he could be a man.
So highly termed by the God of the universe.
Our man, greatly beloved of God, well, I believe we have here that he was a man of the word, a man of the Word. He, he knew God's word and he spent time with God's wonderful Word. And of course that's going to bring us to spend time in prayer, and then we're going to spend time and praise.
Because those three things go together. As one brother present here has said, RPM is essential in the engineering world, and so in our Christian life reading.
Prayer and meditation. You can't get on without it. Beloved young people, you don't need to even try.
It's sad to see how much is known of science and how little is known of the Savior.
And that's the tendency of the age. Oh crowded, cracking the craniums in college and bring them, bring them onto the place where they have have an armful of books and almost take a wheel belt and carry home the homework and give them no time to think of the Lord. Just as in the days of the Israelite Sparrow said, crowd out every thought of God out of their lives, increase the tail of bricks and lay on the lash and don't let them so much a thing of God.
That's the enemy's trick and that hasn't. That hasn't changed any. He's the same subtle sick right on down through the centuries and he's the one that's just following your trail and he's crowding you this way. Crowding. Pull it up. Post a job and 1/2 or two jobs a time and a half and double time and.
What's all going to happen? What would I add up to? It'll add up to one big zero in God's estimation in eternity.
So we find here he was a man of the word. Well, we read the entrance of God's Word, Bringeth, light and fire. So many young people wondering what to do next.
And why are there so many of us older heads wondering what to do next? Because we're not acquainted with the book. We're we're we're just kind of wobbling around in the dark. But the entrance of God's word bringeth light and God delights to lead his people in a plain path. A plain path, No, no lack of perception there spiritual disseminate.
Is possible because of continuing on with the word that gives light. And King David said thy word have a hidden in my heart that I might not sin against thee. What are you hiding in your hearts? I notice that dear young people can learn God's word very rapidly. I It's wonderful the way they can take it in and retain it and hold on right on down through to old age, that precious truth that they've read and memorized in their young lives.
Well.
Hide God's word like David. Hide it in your heart that you might not sin against your man, that you might not sin against your Savior. Hide God's word in your heart and hide it now because the time is coming when you can't hide it so easily. You're going to have difficulty in hiding it because your mind has become a callous and has become sick and therefore you just can't take it in all. You can hold it for a few hours perhaps, but you can't. You can't hold it small. Now is the time to young people hide thoughts right in your heart.
And we have that injunction in Timothy study to show thyself approved unto God a Workman that needeth not, needeth not to be ashamed. Rightly dividing the word of truth, don't need to mix it all up. God's Word has a pattern, and He wants us to be acquainted with his His truth in a proper map, in a consecutive layout of His divine purposes. And so we have His word as a lamp under our feet, and a light under our path.
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Oh, don't need to go to this one and that one, I said, what do you think about it, brother? What do you think about it? I said no, you just take take your your, your Bible and get on your knees in your room with the Lord and ask him to direct you and in his work and he'll tell you what he thinks about it. Yes, he will. And he'll make it so powerful at play that you won't need to guess and you won't need to to wonder about. And so he wants to do that. God delays to do that. Well, don't be among those who are.
Ah, same word. You know God's word is foolishness. You know as we have in First Corinthians 118 the fool has said in his heart in Psalm 14 there is no God and 1St been 1/1/18.
The preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness. You know, there are a lot of people like we heard last night. They're foolish and they don't want God's truth and so they say, ah, foolishness. But that doesn't change anything. Over in Romans 3 three it says.
There without very significant statement that I've enjoyed for what you know. We hear that on the street hall So what for? What if some did not believe. Shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect. Not in the least. Not in the least. I don't care how many unbelievers that doesn't change God's pattern and blueprint. He's going to go right along according to his His blueprint is going to heal right to the line and.
You're in the way. You'll be. He'll be hewn down.
God loves you, but it doesn't want any of your nonsense in mind either. He wants us to comply with His precious truth, to hide it in our heart, to treasure, to value and to purpose. To please the one who shed his precious blood on Calvary, that he might go on with him a little while longer until he comes to call us home. Well, we have something else here over in Luke 926. There's a very touching statement there, I think that we might read with Prophet.
Luke 9 and 26 Concerning being a shape, you know sometimes.
We act like we're ashamed on our jobs in our classrooms. We act like we're ashamed of the Lord Jesus. We act like we're ashamed of His word. But listen to this Luke 926 For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him shall the Son of Man be ashamed when he cometh in his own glory, and in the Fathers and of the holy angels. Do you want him to be ashamed of you?
Ah, don't be ashamed of him.
What? What has he done that you should be ashamed of him?
Ah, let him have his way his hallway. Oh, let him be Lord of all of He is Lord of all. He's not Lord at all. Just think of that.
And that's all. Let him have his way. And then over in John 1248, think of his word. Oh, his word is wonderful, and I don't appreciate it as much as I ought. And may we appreciate it more together, in these precious days that we have together over his wonderful word and round himself. Therein we find in John 12.
The precious truth.
And both sides of it.
He that rejected me. John 1248, he that rejecteth me.
And receiveth not my words.
Hath won the judges him the words that I have spoken. The same shall judge him in the last day. Do you want God's truth?
Well, then buy it. Buy it and don't stop. Buy it and don't stop.
And it's by his word that we're going to live. Man shall not live by bread alone. But by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God shall man live. And that's life. And that's eternal life. To whom shall we go? Peter said, Thou hast the word of eternal life. Oh, what do you occupy? What am I occupied with? I'm occupied with that which is secondary, with that which God is set aside. Or am I occupied with that which he has set before me as his truth or his precious truth?
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This is God's desires. We have in First Timothy 2 verses three and four. This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who will have all men to be saved and to come under the knowledge of the truth. Or you've gotten saved. Yes, Wonderful. That's a good start, but only a start. God wants you wants me to go on in His truth. In His truth. What is truth? The Lord Jesus said I am the wind, the truth and the light. No man cometh unto the Father, but by me. You want God's truth. It's going to cost you something.
It's going to cost them. It's worth everything. It costs, absolutely. And his injunction this afternoon for each of us is for his.
Though you fought therefore unto him without the camp bearing his reproach. And it's going to be difficult, I know, as you go back to college and as you go back to your your high school work and your your grade school work. But I have a letter. I have three of them, in fact, from a millionaire's daughter. She's the wife of the young of the youngest millionaire in the United States, and she has been gathered now to the large name about 3 months. She's only been saved about three years. And her letters really rejoice the hearts of any young people, and I have them with me if you care to read them.
Her name is Mary Jane Henderson.
She's a Spanish student, 21 years of age, and God had brought her off. And she is a happy soul and she has bought the truth. And she's lived for the Lord in the, what they call Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs, NY And they've met together daily around over the word, reading it and spending time together in prayer with a half a dozen or so other dear children of God up there in New York State. Well, I wonder how you spend your time.
Do you spend it on the ball field? Do you spend it, perhaps in some other, in some other fickle way that can't net you any gain spiritually, eternally? Oh my, just to go on with the Lord and to be a term by God, our man, a woman.
Greatly beloved of himself. That's worth him. That's worth billions of this world's dollars. May the Lord help us so to do. Oh yes. And so let his word dwell on your rich. Well over in the second chapter there of Daniel and verse 23, we find that he was a man of praise. You know, Daniel didn't take all this glory to himself. He didn't take any of them, No.
He was approached by this potentate to interpret a dream. Well, Daniel said, give me a little time. Give me a little time. And he gave him time. And then Daniel went to God and prayed. And Daniel had headed out with the Lord, so to speak. He got before the Lord, and the Lord showed him what this King's dream was. And, you know, some of the prophecies that we have in Daniel are wonderful.
Come to Patton, Summer still going to come to pass. He was a man that God could trust because he was a man after God's own heart. Even as David. Well over here in the 23rd verse of chapter 2.
He's a man of praise. No, it's it's wonderful to meet Saints of God who are full of praise. Ah, what a depressing thing it is to meet Saints of God that are always grumbling and they grumbling Monday, the grumbling twos, the grumbling lenses to right on through the grumble and they don't have any ground and that's too bad or what? What shame that brings on the precious name of our loving Satan and what what appreciation is, is, is given to seek the enemy of our souls.
Grumbling. But here he was a man of praise. Oh, that's what counts. Praise the Lord for all things and in all things. And I thank thee, and praise thee, oh thou God of my Father's, who has given me wisdom and might, and has made Nolan to me. Now what we desired of thee. For thou hast now made known unto us the kings matter. Isn't that lovely? Well, that's what God.
Would have from us, because praise glorifieth him, praise.
And rejoicing. And the apostle Paul was sitting there in the Philippian prison in those four chapters in all of his trial he could rejoice, and he mentioned joy and rejoicing 17 times in those four short chapters. And so rejoice in the Lord for your righteous, for praise is coming for the upright and praise glorify him.
And anything else doesn't glorify him. Anything else is pleasing to the enemy. Complaints and dissatisfactions. We have this in the sound of a Bless the Lord at all times. His praise shall continually be in my mouth. Bless the Lord at all times. No matter what comes or what goes, it doesn't matter. Just praise Him. Please him. Sing forth the honor of His name. Make his praise glorious. That's what the Lord wants.
00:45:27
Make his praise glorious. Praise you, the Lord, for it is good to sing praise.
Unto our God, for it is pleasant and praise is coming. Oh, thank God for such guiding verses as those to to stimulate our hearts and pray and praise. And so we find here that's what David was Daniel was doing, and he says 7 * a day, Do I praise thee because of thy righteous judgments? Well, God was pleased with that and so praise.
Leads us on to prayer. You know we got the Gimme gimmes often. Taiwan Lord, give me this, Give me that and give me something else. Bless me my wife John. His life must for no more. Amen. And the way we go. But that isn't conscious. He wants us to praise what he's given us. He's given us his only begotten son.
And he died on count. How many times do we thank him and praise him for saving our souls? How many times do we thank him for his wonderful work? Oh, how many times do we thank him for the truth? I think of the precious statement of Jacob in Genesis 32 and 10. I am not worthy in the new translation. I am too small for all the mercies, and all the truth that thou hast shown unto thyself unto thy servant.
Think of that mercies for salvation and truth for separation. And we're just too small to take it in. I'm not worth of all that mercy of all that truth all done. Thou man great of the love of God and so he was a man of prayer. And we find all things, whatever we shall ask in prayer, beating you should receive them. So why don't we pray? Oh you hear people say, well you know, this is a very serious situation. I guess the only thing we can do is pray. So all we got left.
That's where you should have started, dear brother. You should have started with prayer, not end up with prayer. Start and finish with and right on through. And so Jesus went out into the mountain to pray and continue all night in prayer under God that he needed to do that and how much more we all he enjoyed communing with with his boss in those mountain places of seclusion.
And quietness and quiet tranquility. All are wonderful. And you have a quiet place. You have a trusting place too. You can get a low oh, an effort. We used to have what they call prayer towers all the way from the people and up off the ground, away from the snakes and the ants and get along there with a lot. And I was worthwhile, thank God gave help in those times when things seem to be going wrong and our lives were threatened and souls were antagonist against God's gospel. They want education. They want a civilization. And we look to the law and he gave us souls.
They give us precious soul wits, doctors, medicine and head men, Chiefs accepting prices are saying.
Prayer. Ah, we know too little about it. And these days, I'm afraid too far, too little. But God would have us be acquainted with these things because Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer. Ah, they said we'll give ourselves, continue to prayer and to the menace of their word. Oftentimes, you know, we get the gospel ahead of prayer. We get the service ahead of worship, we get the carpet for the horse. And that isn't God. This is how that isn't just way he wanted, but First things first. And so we can go on with him.
In that capacity, in that light, well we praise God for his patience with us and the effect of prayer. Righteous man availeth much.
All you know, we think a lot about that when there's a soul, perhaps one of our loved ones die, slipping away from time into eternity. Here we are, we're at the bedside and then we get down on both knees. And we don't have any arthritic pains either. We're just wet and bow our knees and cry to God as one of our one of our children passing away in Africa. We took that little child and we on both our knees. We just tried to God, and God undertook and spared her life. 33 years old today.
We thank God for his faith.
But don't. Don't.
Think that God doesn't recognize reality. He does. And he wants to see the meat, and he wants to see it in you. And he wants to see it now, because this is God's time now. And then turn it. There won't be an opportunity for prayer. There'll be prayers there, but be an opportunity for for going on serving him as we are in this scene, we'll be praising him, and he'll be serving us all through those compensations of God's wonderful eternity. Well, we find here.
00:50:17
He was a man of praise and a man of prayer and a man of the word. Well, we thank God for that. And so we can rejoice that God is able to bring us on. You know, Daniel wasn't any, anything different, anyone different than we are. No, he wasn't. He wasn't one of God's goody goodies. No, he wasn't just a favorite of of of the Lord. No, He was one that God used. We have Saul of Tarsus. He was he was a terrible character, but.
God chosen. And God has boys and girls right here in this room this afternoon. He has young people that he wants. And he's been trying for a long time. He's been following you, as I heard not long ago concerning one who says, you know, the Lord is pressuring me. I better give up. You better give up because God doesn't want to give up. He wants you and He wants all of you. He wants you. They gave themselves to the Lord, and that's what he has purchased. He purchased you with His own precious blood. The Lord Jesus has, and he wants you now, and He wants all of you. He doesn't want you to reserve a little portion for yourself. Not even a little portion.
He wants Paul and he wants he wants all that we have. And he's worthy of all because he has given all for me. He's given his precious blood. He's getting laid. His life down in death. Oh, for me that it might have me. It might have you with him in the glory for all eternity. Isn't that Isn't that wonderful, that love and think of it. So let him have his way. Well, we find here that he was one that God preserved.
Just think of put yourself in his in his deliver down there in Denver Lions. God preserved him. Yes he did, and God promoted it. Take a look over here at the.
Second chapter.
And the verses 48 and 49.
Then we find here how God prospered him and promoted it. Then the king made Daniel a great man and gave him many great gifts, and made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon and chief of the governors over all the wise men of Babylon. Then Daniel requested of the king, and he set Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego over the affairs of the province of Babylon. But Daniel sat in the gate of the king.
Ah, reminded of Joseph. The Lord made all that Joseph did to prosper, and he prospered then. And we're not doing it for prosperity, but we read. Concerning Joshua and Joshua 18 I believe it is and you shall prosper. Meditate in God's word day and night, and you shall prosper. God wants us to go on the prospering spiritually. And so we take another look over here in the first part of that chapter, six that we read.
And we find in the third verse then this Daniel was preferred above all the presidents. Think of it above all the presidents and Princess because of excellent spirit was in him and the king thought to set him up with a whole realm babbling. Mind you that was a good sized country and one of faith renowned. And here's Daniel over the whole verse 10 of that sixth step now when Daniel knew.
That the writing was signed.
He went into his house and his windows being opened in his chamber toward Jerusalem. He kneeled down upon his knees three times a day and prayed. That's where he got his power. That's where he received his his prosperity and prestige and temperament. He was a man of God.
He had an excellent spirit and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime. Yes, He didn't have any fear, Pharaoh, and have any fear of the King of Babylon. The Lord was with him and prosper and preferred, and gave him a wonderful, wonderful, happy life. I'm sure, and I believe that between the two you would prefer to be Daniel rather than the Gate, because the king couldn't sleep that night.
But then you had a wonderful sleep. Perhaps the best he'd had in a long time, right there on the lion's mane. God controlled the beast. close the mouth and they couldn't hurt them.
Well, God is able to protect you. We don't know what this communist ridden country has for us in the future. We know they're Saints of God, have read about them just lately. How they've been in the salt minds of Siberia. Saints of God that are going through trial imprisonments and dungeons and starvation diets. And the dear Saints of God in China and many many this afternoon in the Congo and in northern region going through trial that we don't read about or hear about but we get a little bit so now that of the awful things are going through.
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And bloodshed, murder and.
Glory, wonderful, the glory to him. May the Lord help us just to go on and dare to be a dime. Dare to stand alone there, to have a purpose, truth, and dare to make it known. We don't need to hide our lights under Bush, We don't need to be pussyfooting around. But let us have a clear cut, clean cut testimony for our blessed Lord.
And have the lion so positive, so definite, that others, when they see, are walking ways in the scene, will know where the line of demarcation is. It's far better to be a stepping stone in this scene for our dear young people than to be a stumbling block. May the Lord help us to be true and a ring through and to go on for His glory until He comes to call us home to that glory seat. May we sing that lovely hymn 46 in the back of our books.
Oh.
Right.
Oh, oh, oh.
Dear.
Where bloody.
Are thy.
We.
My dearest.
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh oh. Oh.
3 2.
Oh, oh, oh away.